- A golfer can request that the flagstick be removed whether it’s off or on the green. ...
- Offering to tend the flag is good etiquette, especially if the player is the last to play in a group on the green.
- When you’re returning the flag, make sure that you loosen the flag from the bottom of the cup before a stroke. ...
What do the rules of golf say about taking the flagstick out?
What do the Rules of Golf say about taking the flagstick out? The answer is in Rule 17-1 – Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up. ‘Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole’.
Should you tend the flag on the Green in golf?
Offering to tend the flag is good etiquette, especially if the player is the last to play in a group on the green. When you’re returning the flag, make sure that you loosen the flag from the bottom of the cup before a stroke.
When to leave the flag in or take the flag out?
If the longer leave is no problem leave the flag in. If it’s going to be an issue take the flag out.” I have to disagree. Even if you’re pretty bad from two and a half feet, it still pays to leave it in. Let me give a worst-case example (or at least a pretty bad case) of “issue”. * At just over a foot, you always make.
Should you pull the flag out when you putt?
VERDICT Don’t let the tradition of pulling the flag out while you putt get in the way of shooting lower scores. Leave the pin in. “It’s one small step for golfers, one giant leap for golf.”
What does the rules say about taking the flagstick out?
What do the Rules of Golf say about taking the flagstick out? The answer is in Rule 17-1 – Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up. ‘Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole’.
When a flagstick is not attended, removed or held up, it must be attended, removed or held up?
The only really important thing you need to be aware of is that: ‘If the flagstick is not attended, removed or held up before the player makes a stroke, it must not be attended, removed or held up during the stroke or while the player’s ball is in motion if doing so might influence the movement of the ball’.
What is a flagstick in golf?
‘The flagstick is a moveable straight indicator, with or without bunting or other material attached, centred in the hole to show its position. It must be circular in cross section.
What is the rule for a ball resting against a flagstick?
Rule 17-4 – Ball Resting Against Flagstick states that: ‘When a player’s ball rests against the flagstick in the hole and the ball is not holed, the player or another person authorised by him may move or remove the flagstick, and if the ball falls into the hole, the player is deemed to have holed out with his last stroke; otherwise, the ball, ...
When is the flagstick unattended?
The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the stroke has been made on the putting green. Being the Rules of Golf, there is of course an exception: When the flagstick is attended, removed or held up without the player’s authority – see Rule 17-2.
What is the 17-2 rule?
You can read Rule 17-2 – Unauthorised Attendance and the penalties for breaching it here. I will however cover Rule 17-3 – Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant as that is something that does happen quite frequently on the golf course.
Who tends the flag in golf?
It’s important to know that if the flag is in the hole, the person that stands near it is going to be deemed as the person that will tend the flag unless another player requests the job. This means that the person standing closest to the flag will be responsible for it until a ball comes to rest.
What is the purpose of a flag in golf?
The main purpose of the flag is to show golfers where the next hole is. Golf range finders often come equipped with a pin seeking feature that measures the distance from the range finder to the pin. This makes it easier to accurately gauge the distance, although experienced players can usually eyeball the flag and come up with a distance that’s ...
What is flag etiquette?
Flag Etiquette. The term tending the flag refers to someone standing next to the flagstick and removing it from the cup once a player has struck their putt. A golfer can choose to play to the hole with the flag out or in, based on their preference. In years past, if a golfer played a stroke from the green to the cup with the flag still in, ...
Why are flags important in golf?
In golf, the flags are a very important part of the game. The flag is used to identify where a hole is placed. The flags extend up to several feet above the ground which allows a player on the course to easily locate the hole’s position on the green from hundreds of yards away.
When can you request flagstick tending?
A player can request tending of the flag when they’re attempting long putts. This is when a player may have difficulty seeing the hole from a long shot. Some players will also request flagstick tending when chipping off the green. The flag should be tended for another player if: A player requests it.
How to tend a flag?
When tending the flag, make sure that you’re not standing directly behind the cup. Instead, move to the side. When you take the flagstick out it’s important that you place it at a point where it’s not going to interfere with the line of a shot. Not doing this can result in penalties.
What is the flag color used for?
When dealing with color-coded flags, the flag color can be used to mark the flag’s location relative to the center of the green. There will be a color for the back, one for the center, and at the front. Some courses will also mark the flag based on skill level for the player.
What percentage of a putt goes in with a flagstick in?
The average with a flagstick in was 45 percent, as high as 61 percent with the fiberglass pin and as low as 36 percent with the dual-diameter pin. In general then, a putt that would have struck the flagstick off-center is twice as likely to go in with the flagstick out as it is with the flagstick in.
Does a flagstick hurt your chances of a putt going in?
The facts of his study suggest the opposite, that the flagstick does much, much more to hurt your chances of a putt going in than help turn a bad putt into a made one.
Why is my putt short with the flag in?
The reason the putt is short with the flag in is because golfers are unsure how far the ball will roll past the hole if it doesn’t drop so they hit it lighter. But with the flag in you can hit it harder knowing it will not go as far if you hit a little hard and the results show that it will probably go in . Alex .
Why leave the flagstick in?
Leaving the flagstick in also keeps the ball closer to the hole on misses. The less rigid flagstick has the highest make % and least distance after a miss. The most rigid flagstick is still an advantage for both makes and misses vs. flagstick out.
What is the difference between flag type 1 and flag type 2?
Flag type #1 is less rigidand absorbs more energy from the ball on contact. Flag type #2 is more rigidand absorbs less energy from the ball on contact.
Why do golfers take flagsticks out to putt out?
Because most golfers don’t play with caddies, the process of taking the flagstick out to putt out can delay play , and the USGA added that it does not anticipate the rule resulting in a scoring advantage.
What is the penalty for hitting a flagstick?
The Old Rule: Hitting the flagstick with your ball from on the green resulted in a two-stroke penalty. The New Rule: According to the USGA, under Rule 13.2a (2), “There will no longer be a penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick left in the hole.”.
What does it mean to leave a flagstick in?
Leaving the flagstick in means you can ram in some short putts, taking break and doubt out of them. (But be careful — one firmly-struck missed putt can zip by!) Where this rule can more reliably help you is in pace of play. No longer do you have to feel a twinge of guilt for tapping in without first removing the pin.
Can you putt with a pin in golf?
Yes, as far as these things go. It already has been controversial! The headlines thus far have come from Bryson DeChambeau, who announced to GOLF.com last month that he intends to putt with the pin in. “It depends on the COR, the coefficient of restitution of the flagstick,” he said.
Do You Have to Remove the Flagstick Before Putting?
Here's the situation: Your golf ball is on the putting green and you are lining up your putt. The flagstick stands in the hole. Do you have to take that flagstick out before you putt? Or, at least, have someone tend the flag and remove it before your ball reaches the cup?
The Flagstick Rule Changed in 2019
For as long as golfers alive today can remember, one of the rules of golf was that you could not hole a stroke played from the putting green while the flagstick was still in the cup. To put it another way: The flagstick had to be removed from the cup before your ball fell in for any stroke played from the green.
When will the new rules of golf take effect?
Golf season had officially ended in Colorado, which made it the perfect time to start practicing playing under the new Rules of Golf that would take effect in 2019. I loved the changes to the rules and the makers’ intent ...
Who left the flagstick in the US Open?
So it was thought that recreational players would use this new rule but the pros would not, until Bryson DeChambeau concurred with Pelz and announced he would leave the stick in except at U.S. Opens, where a thicker metal flagstick is used.
Can you leave a flagstick in a hole?
And that is Rule 13.2, which says in essence: “You may leave the flagstick in the hole or have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after your ball is played), but you must decide before making a stroke.”.
Can you put a stick back after it has been removed?
Even after the stick has been removed, you can put it back leaning the way you found it before you putt “if you find it advantageous” to do so . Good golf etiquette now means that all players in a foursome will respect and comply with the wishes of the rest.
Do you have to pull out the stick for a tap in birdie?
You no longer have to pull out the stick and have someone hold it for your tap-in birdie! If you, like Bryson DeChambeau, play any kind of tournament golf, you would be crazy not to put the stick in the hole for your so-called “gimme” inside the leather.
Can you put a flagstick back in the hole?
If someone wants the stick out for some ill-advised reason, it is not a waste of time to put it back in the hole for other players. Look, you have to put it back in the hole before you leave the green anyway. One rule nuance: If someone happens to take out the flagstick without you asking, and you putt, you can ask them to put it back even ...
What is the USGA rule for flagsticks?
USGA Rules. 17-1. From anywhere on the course, the player is allowed to have someone tend, remove or hold up the flagstick so that he can see the hole’s position.
What happens if the ball stops against a flagstick?
If the ball stops against a flagstick that’s in the hole, then falls into the cup when the flag is removed, the player is considered to have holed out with the previous shot. If the ball doesn’t fall in, it is placed on the lip without penalty. 17-1. Flagstick Attended, Removed Or Held Up.
What happens if you hold a flagstick in a hole?
Note 1: If the flagstick is in the hole and anyone stands near it while a stroke is being made, he is deemed to be attending the flagstick. Note 2: If, prior to the stroke, the flagstick is attended, removed or held up by anyone with the player’s knowledge and he makes no objection, the player is deemed to have authorized it.
When is the flagstick unattended?
The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the stroke has been made on the putting green. Exception: When the flagstick is attended, removed or held up without the player’s authority – see Rule 17-2.
What does it mean when a flagstick is held up?
Before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole. If the flagstick is not attended, removed or held up before the player makes a stroke, it must not be attended, removed or held up during ...
Golf Range Finder Use and Pin Seeking Technology
Flag Etiquette
- The term tending the flag refers to someone standing next to the flagstick and removing it from the cup once a player has struck their putt. A golfer can choose to play to the hole with the flag out or in, based on their preference. In years past, if a golfer played a stroke from the green to the cup with the flag still in, they faced a penalty. Bu...
Requesting That The Flag Be Tended
- It’s perfectly fine for the flagstick to be tended to for any type of shot at any location on the course. A player can request tending of the flag when they’re attempting long putts. This is when a player may have difficulty seeing the hole from a long shot. Some players will also request flagstick tending when chipping off the green. The flag should be tended for another player if: 1. …
Tending The Flag
- If you’re the one that’s tending the flag, make sure that you approach it, remove it and stand it at arm’s length. Keep different players putting lines in mine, ensuring that you’re not standing in anyone’s putting line or walking across it. Keep quiet and still in order to avoid distracting another player. Make sure you lift the pin straight up and avoid pulling it toward you or bending it. This is …
Important Flag Rules
- It’s important to know that if the flag is in the hole, the person that stands near it is going to be deemed as the person that will tend the flag unless another player requests the job. This means that the person standing closest to the flag will be responsible for it until a ball comes to rest. 1. A golfer can request that the flagstick be removed whether it’s off or on the green. It can also be le…
Color-Coding and Difficulty Level
- In golf, the flags are a very important part of the game. The flag is used to identify where a hole is placed. The flags extend up to several feet above the ground which allows a player on the course to easily locate the hole’s position on the green from hundreds of yards away. The color of the flag sends a message, telling the player in the tee box or in the fairway the relative location of the fla…
Final Thoughts
- For new players, learning the ropes of the game can be very challenging. Hopefully, this article has helped to clear up some common misconceptions when it comes to tending the flag in golf properly. While some of these rules may seem unfair or even a little ridiculous, there’s a reason for everything when it comes to the golf rules and how the game is played. Whether you’re a low ha…